Proposed Reform of the Australian Seasonal Workers Programme
The Australian government is calling it a "new era" for Pacific worker programs as it announces reforms to the scheme designed to reduce red tape for employers.
It claims the changes will streamline the application process for the scheme,which bring thousands of workers from across the region and Timor Leste to work in regional Australia.
The reforms will streamline the application process for the two labour programs, the Pacific Seasonal Worker program and the newer Pacific Labour Scheme, with Australian employers able to to join both programs through a single application.
Other changes will also allow semi-skilled workers on the Pacific Labour Scheme, who work in industries such as aged care and meat processing, to be recruited in more regional locations across Australia.
Seasonal workers will also be able to be employed by hotels and resorts in peak tourism seasons in rural and regional Australia, while the upper age limit of 45 years will be removed for workers on the PLS, which will allow anyone over the age of 21 to take part.
Australia's Minister for the Pacific and International Development, Zed Seselja, told Pacific Beat that the Government wants to "build and improve what has been a really successful program to date...so that we can see more workers come in".
"People in the Pacific who might be considering being part of our scheme, we're going to remove the upper age limit which at the moment is 45 years," Mr Seselja said.
"So if you're a worker who's in your late 40s or 50s, there will be opportunities there that weren't be there before".
The government promises more reforms will be announced later this year, which it says will "address portability and red tape".
ABC.
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